THIS year’s blockbuster Bahrain Grand Prix has been DELAYED!
And can reveal the reasons behind this.
Why is the F1 Bahrain GP delayed?
Formula 1 fans have faced a double dose of disruption for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with the hit by both a venue change and a weather delay on Sunday October 4.
The event, which is being held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia rather than its usual home in Sakhir, was hit by a heavy tropical thunderstorm shortly before the scheduled 3:00pm local time start.
Torrential rain and lightning swept across the circuit, leaving a significant amount of standing water on the track.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed that conditions were not suitable to start the race, forcing officials to postpone the start.
After a 40-minute delay, the formation lap finally got underway behind the safety car at 3:40pm local time, with all drivers on wet tyres.
However, the delay was quickly extended when the wet conditions triggered widespread technical issues across the grid.
This event is the first wet-weather race under the new 2026 technical regulations, which rely heavily on complex software algorithms to manage the cars’ electrical hybrid power.
Several drivers immediately suffered power unit gremlins and software issues as they struggled to cope with the deluge.
Polesitter reported a lack of acceleration from his Red Bull before managing to get his car going again.
Behind him, driver Lewis Hamilton, who qualified second, suffered a software issue that forced him to crawl around the track and briefly stop on the start-finish straight.
Hamilton told his team over the radio: “I’m pressing the throttle and nothing’s happening.
The Ferrari team replied: “It’s a software issue we’re trying to solve.”
Hamilton was forced to reboot his car on the track before he could continue.
Other drivers also hit trouble, with Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto struggling with power issues and Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar aquaplaning into the gravel trap at Turn 3.
Due to the mounting technical failures and track conditions, Race Control suspended the start procedure and red-flagged the session, ordering all cars back to the pit lane.
The trackside delay follows the logistical delay that relocated the entire event from the Middle East to Southeast Asia earlier this year.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place on April 12 at the Bahrain International Circuit as the fourth round of the season.
However, the race was cancelled alongside the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix following the outbreak of the Iran war in February.
To preserve the 23-race calendar, Formula 1 and the FIA reached an agreement with the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia to move the race to Sepang.
Under the unique agreement, the event retains its Bahrain Grand Prix identity, and Bahrain keeps control of ticket pricing and race proceeds, despite the track being located 6,000 kilometres away.
